House of Commons Hansard #134 of the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was jobs.

Topics

Presence in GalleryOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Some hon. members

Hear, hear!

Public Accounts of CanadaRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Parry Sound—Muskoka Ontario

Conservative

Tony Clement ConservativePresident of the Treasury Board

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to table today, in both official languages, the Public Accounts of Canada 2014.

The Government of Canada is committed to strong financial management and reporting to ensure accountability and transparency. For yet another year, the Auditor General of Canada has provided an unqualified audit opinion of the Government of Canada's financial statements, and we can be justifiably proud of this record.

Government Response to PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre Saskatchewan

Conservative

Tom Lukiwski ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's responses to 55 petitions.

Interparliamentary DelegationsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Conservative

Dean Allison Conservative Niagara West—Glanbrook, ON

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have to honour to present, in both official languages, the following reports of the Canadian delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly respecting its participation at the winter meeting of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly held at Vienna, Austria, from February 12 to 14, 2014, and its participation at the election observation mission at the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly held in Kiev, Ukraine, from May 25 to 28, 2014.

Interparliamentary DelegationsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

NDP

Robert Aubin NDP Trois-Rivières, QC

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the reports of the delegation of the Canadian branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie concerning its participation at the meeting of the Cooperation and Development Committee of the APF, held in Lomé, Togo, from April 14 to 16, 2014, and the meeting of the Parliamentary Affairs Committee of the APF, held in Hanoi, Vietnam, from April 27 to 29, 2014.

Interparliamentary DelegationsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe New Brunswick

Conservative

Robert Goguen ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the report of the delegation of the Canadian branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie, concerning its participation at the meeting of the Political Committee of the APF, held in Libreville, Gabon, on April 15 and 16, 2014.

Canadian Environmental Bill of RightsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

NDP

Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-634, an act to establish a Canadian environmental bill of rights.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to again table my bill, the Canadian environmental bill of rights.

The bill, once enacted, would impose critical duties and extend important rights by, first, enshrining the right in Canadians to a healthy and ecologically balanced environment, including through amendment of the Canadian Bill of Rights; second, by legally enshrining the government's public trust duty to protect the environment to the extent of its jurisdiction, including legislating and enforcing environmental protection laws; and third, by extending to Canadians the right to hold their government accountable through access to environmental information, participation in decision-making impacting their environment, and legal standing to seek judicial intervention where those rights are denied.

In the five years since it was first introduced, this reform has now become all the more critical, as the government has undermined and eroded almost every environmental protection and related public right.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Sex SelectionPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Conservative

Leon Benoit Conservative Vegreville—Wainwright, AB

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to present today.

In the first, the petitioners call upon Parliament to condemn discrimination against females brought about through gender-selection pregnancy termination.

Impaired DrivingPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Conservative

Leon Benoit Conservative Vegreville—Wainwright, AB

In the second petition, Mr. Speaker, the petitioners call for stronger action against those who would drive impaired causing death. They call for a mandatory minimum sentence for those persons convicted of impaired driving causing death. They also want the Criminal Code of Canada to be changed to redefine the offence of impaired driving causing death as vehicular manslaughter.

Canada PostPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

NDP

Jonathan Tremblay NDP Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present three petitions signed by hundreds of people from Beauport, Côte-de-Beaupré, Charlevoix, Île d'Orléans and Haute-Côte-Nord.

The first pertains to stopping the cuts to Canada Post's services.

The SenatePetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

NDP

Jonathan Tremblay NDP Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC

Mr. Speaker, the second petition pertains to abolishing the Senate.

Extractive CompaniesPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

NDP

Jonathan Tremblay NDP Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC

Mr. Speaker, the third petition pertains to the creation of a social responsibility ombudsman for Canadian extractive companies. Hundreds of people from my riding signed this petition.

Environmental Lakes AreaPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Ralph Goodale Liberal Wascana, SK

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition to present today, signed by a large number of people in Saskatchewan, particularly in the Saskatoon area.

The petitioners indicate their concern about environmental protection of fresh water in Canada, and especially the loss of the Environmental Lakes Area as an important research facility under federal jurisdiction. They urge the Government of Canada to ensure that freshwater systems in our country are properly protected.

The EnvironmentPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

NDP

Robert Chisholm NDP Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS

Mr. Speaker, I have a few petitions that I would like to table on behalf of constituents of Dartmouth—Cole Harbour.

The first petition is in respect to the climate change accountability act that has been tabled by the official opposition caucus. The petition, signed by hundreds of my constituents, supports the New Democratic Party caucus climate change accountability act, which would be a law that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions and hold the government accountable.

Canada PostPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

NDP

Robert Chisholm NDP Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS

Mr. Speaker, the second petition calls upon the government to stop the cuts to our postal service. Again, it is a petition signed by hundreds of constituents in Dartmouth—Cole Harbour.

The third petition also asks the government to stop the cuts to our postal service, in particular, due to the consequences as they affect seniors and people with mobility issues as well as the 8,000 jobs that will be lost as a result of this decision.

Autism Spectrum DisordersPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

October 29th, 2014 / 3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Kirsty Duncan Liberal Etobicoke North, ON

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present this petition with dozens of signatures that were collected by my constituent, Dee Gordon, as she walks twice a week from Etobicoke North to downtown Toronto to raise awareness of autism.

Autism spectrum disorders, ADDS, are pervasive disorders which affect 1 person in 88. They are characterized by social and communication challenges, and a pattern of repetitive behaviours and interests. They are lifelong, affect life experience and exert emotional and financial pressures on families.

The petitioners call upon the government to work with the provinces, territories and stakeholders to develop a pan-Canadian strategy for ASD, including awareness and education campaigns, child, adolescent and adult intervention and innovative funding arrangements for financial therapy, surveillance, respite care, community initiatives and research.

Canada PostPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:20 p.m.

NDP

Carol Hughes NDP Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise to table petitions with respect to the cuts at Canada Post.

The petitioners are upset about the elimination of home delivery for millions of urban customers. They raise the issues that about 8,000 good-paying jobs will be lost and that the postal rates increase will make life more expensive for cash-strapped families, small businesses and charitable organizations, and will not provide them better service.

The petition is signed by people from Elliot Lake and Blind River.

The EnvironmentPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:20 p.m.

NDP

François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present three petitions that my constituents in Drummond sent to me this summer. They worked very hard.

The first petition concerns their desire to establish an energy efficiency program for owners of houses, buildings, shops and businesses that would support job creation and the environment.

Canada PostPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:20 p.m.

NDP

François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC

Mr. Speaker, the second petition seeks to save Canada Post. We heard questions about this today in the House of Commons. It is a very hot topic in my riding as well.

CBC/Radio-CanadaPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:20 p.m.

NDP

François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC

Mr. Speaker, the third petition concerns the cuts to the CBC/Radio-Canada, which have gotten a strong reaction from many residents of Drummond. They are calling for stable and adequate funding for CBC/Radio-Canada.

Canada PostPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:20 p.m.

NDP

Hoang Mai NDP Brossard—La Prairie, QC

Mr. Speaker, I have the privilege to rise today to present about a hundred petitions signed by people from my riding of Brossard—La Prairie. These petitions deal with the cuts to Canada Post's services. The petitioners are calling on the government to reject Canada Post's plan for reduced service and to explore other options to modernize the crown corporation's business plan. They know that this will affect many Canadians, including seniors and people with reduced mobility.

Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

3:20 p.m.

Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre Saskatchewan

Conservative

Tom Lukiwski ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, the following questions will be answered today: Nos. 645, 656 and 658.

Question No. 645Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

3:20 p.m.

Liberal

Chrystia Freeland Liberal Toronto Centre, ON

With regard to negotiations in relation to the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with the European Union: since January 1, 2012, what are the costs incurred in relation to travel by government officials from the current Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, as well as the former Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, to (a) Brussels, Belgium, or (b) any other European jurisdictions for meetings about the CETA, broken down by (i) department, (ii) individual, (iii) itemized expenses?

Question No. 645Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

3:20 p.m.

Abbotsford B.C.

Conservative

Ed Fast ConservativeMinister of International Trade

Mr. Speaker, information on travel expenses for exempt staff and senior-level employees is available under proactive disclosure at http://w03.international.gc.ca/dthe-dfva/names-noms.aspx?lang=eng&dept=itci.

The department undertook an extensive preliminary search for the information requested in order to determine the amount of information that would fall within the scope of the question and the amount of time that would be required to prepare a comprehensive response.

The department concluded that producing a comprehensive response to this question would require a prohibitively lengthy undertaking given that it covers more than a years’ worth of travel and would require an extensive manual collection of information and is not possible in the time period allotted.

Question No. 656Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

3:20 p.m.

Liberal

Francis Scarpaleggia Liberal Lac-Saint-Louis, QC

With regard to the government’s plan, announced in the 2014 budget, to acquire privately-owned lands through the National Conservation Plan: (a) how much has the government already spent in 2014-2015 on purchasing ecologically-sensitive privately-owned lands and how much does it plan on spending on the purchase of such lands, either directly or through third parties, in the three fiscal years 2014-2015, 2015-2016, and 2016-2017, in Quebec; (b) how much of this amount has been or will be spent specifically on purchasing wetlands in Quebec; (c) where in Quebec has the government purchased, if it has done so, ecologically-sensitive lands, including wetlands, in 2014-2015 and where does it plan to purchase ecologically-sensitive lands in the province, including wetlands, in the three fiscal years 2014-2015, 2015-2016, and 2016-2017; and (d) does the government purchase ecologically-sensitive lands, including wetlands, through programs other than the National Conservation Plan and, if so, (i) how much has been spent in the last three fiscal years purchasing ecologically-sensitive privately-owned lands, including wetlands, (ii) how much will be spent in the next three fiscal years (2014-2015, 2015-2016, and 2016-2017) on purchasing such lands through any programs other than the National Conservation Plan?